National Guard Members Shot Near White House in D.C. Incident

Two members of West Virginia’s National Guard were shot Wednesday in downtown Washington, D.C., near the White House. A suspect was in custody with injuries not believed to be life-threatening. Governor Patrick Morissey initially stated the Guard members had died from their injury but later retracted that post about 20 minutes later. “We are now receiving conflicting reports about the condition of our two Guard members and will provide additional updates once we receive more complete information,” Morissey wrote. “Our prayers are with these brave service members, their families, and the entire Guard community.” The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed the scene was secure and a suspect in custody. The suspect’s identity was unknown. The injured service members were among over 2,000 National Guard troops deployed to Washington in August after Trump took federal control of the city’s police and mobilized troops in what he described as a crackdown on crime. Since then, they have patrolled metro stations and tourist areas, picking up trash around the National Mall. Emergency medical responders transported all three victims to a hospital, according to Vito Maggiolo, the public information officer for the DC Fire and emergency services… The two guardsmen were shot in an exchange of gunfire with the suspect, a law enforcement source told WRC. One Guard member was shot in the head. No information was immediately shared about who opened fire or why. FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X that the FBI is engaged and assisting with the investigation, asking for prayers and promising updates. Eyewitnesses reported hearing two shots followed by 30 seconds later three more as people ran from the scene. Another witness said a group of children were near the scene when the shooting began. The National Guard statement emphasized their focus on service members’ health and safety, working with Metro PD and other agencies. Local leaders monitored the situation, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urging prayers for the two National Guardsmen.